At least 300 schools across Italy were evacuated on Wednesday following emailed bomb threats affecting major cities including Rome, Milan, Florence, Turin, Sanremo, Vicenza, Naples, Bari, Cagliari, and Palermo.
State-run media said that affected numbers could rise, citing Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara. At least 12 schools each in Rome (including primary schools and nurseries), Milan/Lombardy, and Naples/Campania received the threats.
Sent by someone claiming to be "Mikhail Andropov, leader of Vilayat Misoginistan," the email threatened a "genocide against Italians" and claimed explosives were placed in every targeted school and the Education Minister's car.
ANSA said police are investigating the little-known group's message. Lazio school masters association head Cristina Costarelli called the sender a panic-triggering "myth maniac." Police and Carabinieri military police found no evidence during checks with explosive experts, but evacuated students and teachers as a precaution.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called an urgent cabinet meeting at 4:00pm local time (1500 GMT) to assess the situation.